Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

After Evgeny Grachev, also Vyacheslav Voinov won't be freed up by his NHL team for the upcoming 2010 World Junior Championship. The young defenseman, property of the Los Angeles Kings, is playing in the AHL for the Manchester Monarchs.

According to Sport Express, the Russian Hockey Federation received today a fax which explained that both Grachev and Voinov can't skate in the WJC as they will be busy with their North American clubs. Team's head coach Vladimir Plyuschev added that the IIHF can't have a role in the matter.

On the other hand team Russia, which is having a training camp in Novogorsk, has been joined by North American based Dmitry Kostromitin and Anton Klementyev.

2010 NHL Entry Draft Eligible Maxim Kitsyn scored four goals in six matches in the 2009 Subway Superseries. He talked about his performances in this challenge, his impressions of Canada and about his chances in the upcoming WJC in an interview with Sport Novokuznetsk.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation.

Today coach Vladimir Plyuschev released the extended list of the players called for the WJC. Nikita Filatov is there, as well as Evgeny Grachev, who recently has been ruled out by the Rangers. Kirill Kabanov isn't part of the roster.

The New York Rangers refuse to allow Evgeny Grachev, currently playing for their AHL team Hartford Wolf Pack, to participate in the upcoming World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, says the official Russian Hockey Federation site.

Yesterday the Rangers sent a fax to RHF where they say that Grachev can't go the WJC because he is expected to play in official games during the time the championship will take place.

Russian Hockey Federation plans to appeal to the IIHF for explanation.

Through Atlant's official site, the team's General Manager Ravil Ishakov reported that the contract with Denis Bodrov is ceased with immediate effect. The parts mutually agreed to separate ways. Bodrov joined Atlant last season, after spending his whole career within Lada Togliatti. A couple of years ago he has been very near to a move overseas as the Philadelphia Flyers manifested much interest towards him, but he apparently refused offers from both the Flyers and Avangard Omsk to remain in his hometown club. Denis Bodrov was a second round draft pick on the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

In the 33 games he played with the Moscow Region team during 08-09 and 09-10 seasons, he scored two goals and five assists, with 30 PIMs. He also played four post-season clashes last year, with one assist in four games. So far no rumors have been spread about his career's continuation.

In the popular The Hockey News Hot List feature, Ryan Kennedy put center Alexander Burmistrov on the top of this week's list.

Like fellow Russian imports Ivan Telegin and Kirill Kabanov, Burmistrov came over to the Canadian League this year for more ice time than he would get in the Kontinental League and better competition than he would have seen on the Russian junior circuit.

“The OHL is a better league,” he said. “Fast, many hits. I like it.”

And the Colts like him. The dynamic pivot from Kazan has 20 assists and 29 points in 23 games this year, quarterbacks the second unit of Barrie’s power play and even kills penalties. He has an English tutor who comes twice a week and also watches some TV to round out the experience.

“I watch NHL games…maybe Tyra or Ellen,” he grinned.

Burmistrov is very wiry at 6-foot, 170 pounds, but difficult to knock off the puck. Above all else, though, he’s a fantastic playmaker.

“I like to pass,” Burmistrov said. “Every game I want to (set up) my partners.”

Of course, linemate Stefan Della Rovere will likely be an enemy when the world juniors roll around in a month. He’ll be suiting up for Canada while Burmistrov has a great shot at a Russian roster that will now boast Nikita Filatov. Asked if he’ll trash-talk his Colts mates should Russia prevail, Burmistrov was emphatic.

“Yeahhhhh,” he laughed. “But if Canada beats Russia, all the fun will be had on me.”

Alexander Burmistrov is eligible for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Dmitri Orlov is a 18 years old defenseman who has been drafted by the Washington Capitals in the latest NHL Entry Draft, with the 55th overall pick. In this translated interview with Metallurg's press attache Sergei Druzhinin, he talked about his feelings about being a first team player, about his ability to play both forward and defense and about the Russian Junior National Team.

20 years old Sergei Gaiduchenko, in a translated interview published on Russianprospects.com, said that he would like to move to another team as he doesn't get much playing time.

In some teams goalies play one game each, in some others a goalie plays six games and the second two. [Lokomotiv's head coach] Kari Heikkila uses a system in which the first goalie of the team plays 85-90% of the games.

Asked about the future:

I would like to move and I got a chance, as Florida drafted me. But first I want to stay in Russia to consolidate, play one or, better, two seasons playing a bigger quantity of games and then go there, just the same way as Semen Varlamov did.

The goalie, who is nicknamed Godzilla by his team mates because of his big size, said that he's happy about life in Yaroslavl and that he enjoys the city with his girlfriend.

During my free time from hockey often with my team mates we go to the country, eat meat, or go to the restaurants or bowling. Sportsmen don't like to stay at home! I like active life: play tennis or ride the bicycle. I also like going to the movies, it relaxes me. I adore Sylvester Stallone, especially as “Rocky”. Another thing I like to do is reading books – Paulo Coelho and Dan Brown. I like when in books there are philosophical matters.

Sergei Gaiduchenko played 12 games so far in this season, with 6 wins and 6 defeats, posting a GAA of 2.63 with a svs pct of .920.

During the second game of the Subway SuperSeries where U-20 Team Russia faced QMJHL selects, Russian coach Vladimir Plyuschev lost his temper and ended up with giving the finger to a fan sitting behind. Here is a video from sportsnet.ca (click here if the video below doesn't work). Watch from the 0:45 mark.

"I'm here to fulfil my aim - to play in the NHL. The trainings here are shorter than the ones I used to have in Russia, but richer. I still have tough time with English, but I try hard. I’m happy to be here in Chicago. All is going well; the league is high level.

I would be happy to play for my country [at the WJC], of course, but unfortunately it’s not up to me.

Vityaz let me go, I'm playing in Chicago on a loan deal. My dream is to play in the NHL. This is why I’m here. In Russia it’s not easy to get a true chance, there is the foreigners fashion now" - said Andrei Kuchin at Hockey's Future.

Russian player Nikita Pivtsakin might strengthen the Drummondville’s defense already after the Subway Superseries. This at least according to the Voltigeurs’ plans, who are trying to convince the 18 years old guy moving to Canada.
Selected in the Import Draft’s first round (49th overall pick), by the Cap Breton Screaming Eagles, Pivtsaking didn’t show up in their pre season camp in Sidney. The Omsk, Russia, native defenseman instead deciding taking the first steps in his pro career in the KHL playing for Jaromir Jagr’s Avangard Omsk.